John kuehnle



(No Model.) I

J. KUEHNLE.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS. No. 451,696. Patented May5,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN KUEI'INLE, OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTII TOEDWARD MARTYN, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR OVEFHEAD ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent'No. 451,696, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed December 18, 189i). Serial No. 375,154. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN KUEHNLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit,

in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Switches for Overhead Electrio Conductors, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches fortrolley-wires of electric railways; and the object of my invention isto.form an unbroken electric path or rail for the trolley in passing,all as, more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a detached perspective view of my switch. Fig. 2 isan under side plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 0cm in Fig. 2.Fig. 4c is across-section on line y yin Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section online 0 r, Fig. 2. Fig.

6 is a detached perspective view of the switchrails.

A A are the main rails or conductors, and B. is the switch-rail orswitch-conductor, all three preferably formed in one integral piece ofbrass or other cast metal. Each of the rails or conductors are united atthe inner end by a plate 0, and at their outer ends they are hollowedout on the upper side and form wire-guides D, and upwardly-projectingears E are provided on the sides of these wire-passages for the purposeof securing the trolleywires by clinching the ears over the wires, or inany other suitable manner.

In cross-section each conductor or rail is suitably formed to engagefreely between the flanges of the trolley, and to give the properlightness, strength, and contact I form the cross-section somewhat inthe shape of the T-rail, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 5. The innerends of the conductors are turned up to a height sufficient to bring theunder side of the plate 0 about on a level with the normal height of theupper edges of the trolley-flanges.

F is a flanged metallic plate or cover secured above the conductor-railsat a distance equal to the width of the flanges of the trolley, so thatin passing the trolley will easily transfer its contact from theconductors to the inside of the said plate by means of the flanges ofthe trolley. The plate extends some distance over the inner end of each0011- ductor sufficient to insure the safe passage of the trolleyunderneath, and the outer edges of these flanges may be either turned upor the conductors on their under side may be slightly curved down topermit the safe entrance of the trolley under the plate before makingthe contact.

A suitable recess is formed in the plate or cover to receive the plate 0to bring the under side of both plates on a level or flush with eachother.

A suitable screw G or other means are employed to screw the parts infixed relation to I each other.

I have preferably provided the plates at the opposite ends which facethe wires with braces I-I, extending down upon the respectiveconductors, and such braces I preferably cast integral with the plateand grooved to form wire-passages to receive the trolleywires. The lowerends of the braces 11 communicate into the wire-passages in theconductors and are securedto such conductors in any suitable manner, asby brazing or by means of screws.

On the upper side the plate is preferably provided with hooks or lugs 1,adapted to secure the trolley-wires thereto or engage with thetrolley-wires to firmly connect the switch therewith. At or near thecorners other hooks or eyes J may be formed for securing thereto lateralstay-wires.

. The sides of the plate F are provided with downwardly-projectingguide-flanges K for guiding the trolleys in their respective passageover the switch, the ends of the flanges and plate being suitably flaredor spread to permit easy entrance of the trolley on either conductor.

In practice, the parts being arranged and constructed substantially asdescribed, the switch is secured to the trolley-wires by pass ing themain wire unbroken over the top of the plate F, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1, and securing the switch-wires to the respective hooks I, theportions of the wires passing beyond the edges of the plate beingengaged in the wire-passages formed by the brace II and the ends of theconductors, and firmly held in the latter by clinching the ears E or byputting suitable screws through those ears or soldering them thereto, asmay be deemed best. \Vith the switch thus secured it is evident that thetrolleys can freely pass over the switch on the conductors connectingwith the main line or from the main line to the conductor connecting.The inner ends are suitably supported and set at easy angles to formclear passages for the flanges of the trolley, and in such passages itwill be seen that, provided the conductors are suitably curved, themetallic contact of the body of the trolley with the conductors will betransferred without the slightest shock or disturbance of the directionof the trolley to the contact between the flange and the under sides ofthe plates F and C until the trolley passes into contact with theconductor on the opposite side of the switch and from there onto thetrolley-wire.

My plate F has not only the advantage of forming an electric bridgebetween the points where the trolley leaves the conductors, but it alsoserves as an effective safeguard to prevent any climatic or atmosphericdisturbances, securing the switch against the accumulation of snow orice, and, without making the switch unduly heavy, it makes it of suchstrength to permit the trolley-wires to be stretched and tightened, asmay be deemed necessary.

The construction of the plate F as the supporting portion of the switchis more for the purpose of convenience in manufacturing than fromnecessity, as it will be seen that the main functions of the plate Fcould be as well obtained by projecting the plate 0 over the conductors.

\Vhat I claim as 111 y invention is- 1. In a switch for overheadtrolleywvires, the combination, with three conductors adapted to beconnected, respectively, with the main and switch wires and having theirinner ends separated for the passage of the flanges of the trolley, ot aflanged metallic cover to which the separated ends of the conductors areconnected, forming an electric bridge for the flanges of the trolley,substantially as (10- 5o scribed.

2. In a switch for trolley-wires, the combination, with three conductorsadapted to be connected, respectively, with the main and switch wiresand having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flanges ofthe trolley, of a flanged metallic cover to which the separated ends ofthe conductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flangesof the trolley, substantially as described.

3. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination of threeconductors adapted to be connected, respectively, to the main and switchwires, having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flangesof the trolley, a flanged metallic cover to which the separated ends ofthe conductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flangeot the trolley, and braces connecting the cover with the ends of theconductors, substantially as described.

t. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination, with threeconductors adapted to connect, respectively, with the main and switchwires, having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flangesof the trolley, of a metallic cover to which the separated ends of theconductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flanges 0fthe trolley, braces connecting the cover with the ends of theconductors, and a wire-passage formed in said braces, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination, with threeconductors A, A, and B, of the plates Cand F, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination, with the conductors, to which the trolley-wires arerespectively sccnred,of the plate F and ears Lsubstantially go asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatn re in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KUEIINLE. Witnesses:

M. B. ODoennnrr, P. M. IIULBERT.

